Warmth Of The Family

In the dark forest, Zhao Yun was making his way towards the Imperial city.

"I hope mom and dad are fine." He murmured. For some reason he was having an uneasy feeling in his heart. Thinking about his parent, he was filled with longing. He had nearly died. Even though he survived, he tasted the feeling of death first hand. This experience had changed his personality somewhat. Even he was unaware of these changes but whenever he thought about how he had almost died, a wisp of killing intent would diffuse from him. If it was before, he would have been angry but those murderous desires would not be present, but just few hours ago he killed a bunch of people and now he was fine. There was no feeling of guilt whatsoever.

While he was making his way, he heard the sound of fighting and some distinct words. Curious he made his way to the bushes ad what he saw stunned him. Then a dense killing desire formed within him so much so that even his eyes turned red. In front of him he saw the wounded figure of his parents. Guan Rou was holding on to her husband Zhao Fan who was bleeding from a ghastly wound on his chest. He was only at 4th layer of body tempering; his vitality and recovery power was almost nothing. This wound would have been minor to Zhao Yun but to him it was fatal. There were tears in Guan Rou's eyes as she held her husband.

"Why? Why are they trying to kill us? Why are they harming Yun'er? What wrong have he done to these people? My child just wanted to practise martial arts, he never harmed anyone. My husband diligently served the can. So why?" her sad wails drifted through the forest. She had lost all hope.

"My child, mother cannot see you anymore." Tears blurred her eyes.

"Madam! Please escape. This old servant will block these people for you. Tell Young Master to leave the kingdom cultivate so that one day he can avenge the leader. Please madam! He is the only hope for the clan." An old man, whom Zhao Yun used to call Grandpa Zhang, cried out while fighting with three men. Those men were from Zhao Ling's faction and were at 7th layer of body tempering, similar to Grandpa Zhang. This old man was Zhang Yu, a servant of the clan leader Zhao Ying. He was completely loyal to the clan and thus took special care of Zhao Yun who he saw as his own grandchild. He used to tell him stories about the outside world and was one of the reasons; Zhao Yun had an intense desire to roam the word. Right now he was fending three men of equal strength in order to protect Zhao Yun's parents. He was severely wounded but his experience allowed him to entangle all of them to buy time.

"Haha escape? Where can you escape?" suddenly another figure walked out from the bushes. He was an old man with 8th layer of body tempering cultivation. He eyed Guan Rou and his eyes brightened with lust. Guan Rou was also a rare beauty though not on the level of Su Wan. She appeared plain and gentle but being a mother gave her an aura that appeared holy. Couple with her fair and simple look, it added a certain charm to her.

The old man's appearance and his gaze caused despair to appear on Guan Rou's face. She tightly held her husband and retreated a little. Zhang Yu leaped backward and appeared in front of her, guarding her from sudden attacks as he eyed the 5th elder warily. He knew there was no hope now.

5th elder was in no hurry to attack though. He just gazed at Guan Rou sizing her up. The more he looked the more his eyes brightened.

Zhao Yun who had just arrived to witness this scene was angered to the point that he saw red. If not for his rationality telling him not to lose in this feeling, he would have lurched forward and kill all these men. Even he was surprised at his current condition, and hurriedly supressed these emotions. He knew that something was wrong with him and decided to talk to Ling Yun when this deal is over.

5th elder glanced at Zhang Yu and said, "Zhang Yu, our master is the new clan leader. As a servant it is your duty to follow his orders. Come join our side and kill these two to show your loyalty. This way you can live your life in peace."

Zhang Yu merely sneered in response but he suddenly froze. A soft voice was whispering to him from behind. He turned around to look at Guan Rou in shock.

'Elder Yu, there is no hope for us now that 5th elder has arrived. You should follow his orders and kill us to gain his loyalty. This way you would have a chance to survive and may be able to help Yun'er to escape this calamity.' This was what she had said to him just now. What shocked him the most was despite having tears in her eyes, grief and fear in her heart; these words were uttered in utter calmness. He was stunned. This madam of his was always a gentle and loving woman. She preferred to stay at home to take care of her husband and chid. These two were her world. Just now, she made her choice. Between the life of her and her husband and her child, she had decisively chosen her child. This was a mother. Women are considered weak and soft, but if there is danger to their children, they are the world's most dreadful existence.

The old man admired the woman for her sacrifice but he shook his head. With red eyes which were blurred with tears he said, "Child, this old man has seen the world. Even if I harm you they won't let me off, let alone the fact that I see little Yun as my own grandchild. To kill the parents of my grandchild, don't let me bear such sins before my death."

Guan Rou burst into tears. In a warm voice Zhang Yu continued, "I can stop them for a few breaths, you should take that opportunity to leave. Your husband can still survive if you met with some expert. If you meet Little Yun then tell him, that the world is wider than what I have told him about. There are places that I cannot go, and hope that he can see them for me." Saying that he turned around so that the woman cannot see his tears. He was an orphan who was saved by the previous can leader. He grew up together with him and saw the next clan leader Zhao Ying grow up. Now he was at the end of his life span. Without further breakthroughs, he would die within a decade. He liked Zhao Yun for his determination. He used to tell him stories about his adventures with the previous clan leader. The child's eager and curious questions annoyed him a little but, his will power and hardworking nature was something he liked. He wanted to see him grow. He wanted to watch over the boy when he created his own legend and also he yearned for the stories the chid promised him. The stories of his own adventure in the vast world. Unfortunately it appears that heaven won't give him such chance. He was planning to self-destruct to give the coupe a chance to escape.

He took a deep breath and turn towards the fifth elder.

"So have you decided?" smirked the 5th elder.

"Yes." He replied calmly and started circulating his Qi preparing to self-destruct.

"Grandpa Zhang, if you go like this then who would I tell stories about my adventures." An immature voice which was filled with warmth sounded just when he was going to give the final push.

Zhao Yun had controlled his emotions, and when he heard the dialogue between his mother and the man, his heart was filed with fear and then warmth. The love of his mother, the care of this old servant, and the expectations of the clan leader, he slowly remembered all these feelings, the hatred and killing intent that had seeped into his soul due to the near death experience slowly melted under these emotions. He felt refreshed and content.

"Little Yun" "Yun'er" cried out both Guan Rou and Zhang Yu.

"Oh if it isn't Young master Yun?" an indifferent voice sounded. Fifth elder strolled forth. He was displeased for being ignored.

"Zhao Yun why aren't you greeting 5th elder when you see him?" one of the three men who were attacking Zhang Yu earlier demanded.

Zhao Yun merely glanced at him and slowly walked toward his father. When he saw him seemingly on the brink of death, his heart palpitated in fear. If he hadn't found them when he did, he would have lost his father forever and possibly his mother too. The feelings he just supressed reignited. Before they took control of him once again, Guan Rou who perceived some changes in her son, held his hands and took him in her embrace. This immediately extinguished the flames of hatred.

"Little Yun you shouldn't be here. You should run." Zhang Yu said.

He hadn't perceived his cultivation otherwise even without knowing his battle power, just on the visible cultivation level alone he wouldn't fear. Zhao Yun smiled at the old man. His smile confidant and warm which sent the old man into daze. He looked carefully at the boy and felt a wisp of aura that Zhao Yun released just for him to perceive. His eyes widened. First shocked then confusing but finally a happy emotion took over him. "Hahahaha" he laughed loudly. His voice filled with relief and pride. The baby eagle finally grew up. He was shocked at this insane improvement but since it was Zhao Yun it was fine. He knew his character; he knew that the boy won't stoop to the level of evil to gain strength. He knew that they have hoe. Unless the grand elder doesn't make a move, they would be fine.

"Is the old man finally gone senile?"

"Well his only hope was this little dog, now that he is in 5th elder's palm, he can forget about leaving. With hope lost this is to be expected."

The men laughed and joked. They couldn't perceive Zhao Yun's cultivation, in fact unless he want to, no one under Golden core stage could perceive his cultivation.

5th elder mere frowned and then smirked with disdain. It was beneath him to attack this junior. He stood there as if watching a show.

"Yun'er! Right... you have to run. Mother would bock them. Go, go far away." Guan Rou just awakened from her joy of reuniting with her son and intense worry clouded her heart. So much so that she who disliked fighting and killing stood up to defend her child. Zhao Yun felt love toward his mother. He took her hands in his and said, "Mother, you took care of me for all these years, let your son fulfil his duty now."

"Don't worry madam, little Yun has grown up." Reassured Zhang Yu with a gratified smile.

Zhao Yun smiled and then walked towards his father. He put his hand on his wounds and dense essence energy transferred into Zhao Fan's body. Under the horrified and shocked gaze of the onlookers, the wound repaired itself within seconds and Zhao Fan's condition even improved from before. With a groan of pain, the man opened his eyes in confusion.

"Father." Zhao Yun smiled.

"Yun'er" asked the man in confusion. He was bewildered. How can he be alive with such injuries? Where are the injuries gone? He didn't have the time to ask questions as a soft body buried itself into his arms.

"Brother Fan! I thought I have lost you forever." Sobbing voice of Guan Rou with choked emotions was heard. Zhao fan pushed down his confusion and tightly hugged his wife. He had also nearly lost her.

Seeing his parent's moment, Zhao Yun smiled and then he turned around to gaze at those men from the clan. There were no warm emotions on his face anymore. His eyes were cold as 1000 year old glacier. Coupled with those dark back pupils that appeared as deep as an abyss, his eyes intimidated the 4 men including the 5th elder. Just looking at those eyes sent down chills through their spine.

'What kind of eyes are these.' They wondered.

"Grandpa Zhang, please protect mom and dad." Zhao Yun said calmly. These people nearly took away his parents from him. There was no mercy for them. He would use his full strength to show them what true despair was.

Zhang Yu looked deeply at the young boy. Even he felt that he didn't recognize the youth anymore, but he still nodded.

Seeing his response, Zhao Yun slowly made his way towards the 4 men who were still intimidated by the boy's look.

"You insolent brat!" one of the three men could not control himself anymore. He was embarrassed by being intimidated from a mere child. This embarrassment turned into anger and he attacked in extreme anger. His punch forceful and with killing intent.

"Watch out" cried Zhao fan. He was still unaware of how Zhao Yun saved him. Guan Rou worriedly gazed at Zhang Yu who smiled and said "Little Yun would be fine."

Zhao Yun gazed at the upcoming fists and formed a fist of his own. He circulated the integrated energy which he coined as Genesis Qi. With force he threw out a casual punch.

"Boom"

An explosion took place. Zhang Yu's and 5th elders gaze turned horrified. This strength…

'Foundation' they both thought.

The man being punched shot like a bullet. The other two who were ignorant of the strength Zhao Yun displayed tried catching their companion.

"NOOO" 5th elder cried. But it was too late.

When the punched man collided with the other two, the sheer force turned the two into a meat paste. The man himself landed on a rock... dead.

Silence filled the atmosphere. Everyone was watching the scene in shock. It was more apparent to Zhang Yu and 5th elder who knew how the punch truly was.

"Is is that my Yun'er?" Guan Rou was stunned. Even Zhao Fan was shocked.

"You truly grew up Little Yun. With this strength maybe we can avert the crisis." Murmured Zhang Yu in a daze. He wasn't able to believe how strong Zhao Yun had become.

Zhao Yun indifferently looked at the bloody scene. He then turned towards the 5th elder that was on the verge of going insane. As he saw Zhao Yun gazing at him, he nearly pissed his pants.